Automatic car-coupling.



No. 758,408. PATENTBD APR. 26,V 1904.

L. BOTTENSTBIN.

AUTOMATIC GAR COUPILIINGr.A

APPLIOATION IIvLEn ooT,15. 1903.

N0 MODEL.

HE-; -7 46 IQ-24 UNITED STATES Patented April 2e, 1904,

VPATENT OFFICE.

AUTOMATIC CAR-COUPLING.

sPEoIFIcATIoN` forming part of Letters Patent No. 758,408, dated April 26, 1904.` Application led October 15, 1903. Serial No. 177,168. (No model.)

4 To all whom vtum/ty conc-ern.:

Be it known that I, LEOPOLD BoTTENsTEIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Car-Coup- 1ers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanyingv drawings.

Figure 1 isaview in side: elevation of my improved automatic car-coupling shownin its readiness to couple with the advancing link of another car. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view showingit in the same position. Fig. 3 isa similar view showing a modified construction. Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view showing the device after having been coupled and in engagement with the advancing link. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the coupling.l Fig. 6 is cross-sectional view on the `line VI VI of l' Fig. 4.' Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view on the l enter the opposite coupling-head.

suitable construction.

line VII VII of Fig. 4E. d

My invention refers to improvements in carcouplers; and it has for its objects to-provide a simple reliable automatic coupler which may be coupledwith another similar one orl with the ordinary coupling-link. It is so constructed as to insure certainty of operation and prevent accidental uncoupling, while meeting the variousv conditions and requirements usual with this class of devices and avoiding danger of accident.

' Referring now to the drawings wherein the invention is illustrated, 2 is a coupler-head provided with the usual draw-bar 3 of any The coupler-head is provided with the customary link-cavity 4, adapted to receive the link 5, which is preferably of greater depth than the .ordinary link in order to insure stability and positive operabolt 7, adapted to fall by gravity through the v inner end of the coupling-link when the under support for the pin is removed by the advanc- "ing link. This under support consists of a sliding block 8, adapted to be depressed backwardly by the link in the operation of coupling to the position shown in Fig. 4 and to be thrown outwardly by the counterweighted lever, which I shall hereinafter describe.

1 The block 8 is prevented from being lost or -displaced by means of the pin 9 extending downwardly through a -slot 10 in the under the side, if preferred.

11 is a rocking frame provided with a pivotal bearing 12 in the housing 6, having forvwardly.- extending counterweighted arms 1 3 and provided with lateral slots 14e,v adapted to register with a vertical slot 15 in the housing at varying positions of the arms, and through such slots extends a pin 16 from side to side, passing through the coupling-pin 7, thereby connecting it to the frame 11. By this construction when the back portion of the frame 11 is depressed to the position shown in Fig. 1 the coupling-pin 7 will be raised, and for the purpose of projecting the blockv 8 outwardly underneath the pin a supplemental shifting lever 17, also pivoted at 12 in the housing 6, is provided. The downwardly-extending leg of lever 17 bears againstthebackof the block .side of-the draw-head, as clearly shown, or at 8, while the lever is provided with a backwardlyextending counterweighted arm 18, which constantly exerts pressure downwardly and forwardly. f

In Fig. 3 I have shown a modified 'construclhave indicated in dotted lines a backwardlyextending counterweight, which may be ernployed, if desired,

When the coupling-pin is raised, by depress- Alo ing the frame 11 the lever 17 will thrust the block 8 outwardly underneath the couplingpin 6, as clearly shown, and the block will there remain until pushed backwardly by the incoming link, so that the coupling-pin will thus be maintained in a raised position when the device is ready for coupling.

For the purpose of insuring the couplingpin 7 against dropping downwardly I prefer to use supplemental cross-pins 19, adapted to slide vertically in slots in the coupling-pin guide, so that if the pin 16 should become lost or broken the coupling-pin will not fall downwardly or become lost.

The coupling-pin 7 is shown as made of a square bar; but, if desired, it may be made round and its guideway made of corresponding shape, as will be readily understood.

In order to make the block 8 as light as possible, so as to facilitate the shifting operation, it is preferably made of a hollow metallic box filled with any light substance, such as wood,

. which will also facilitate the shifting of the block.

For the purpose of raising the coupling-pin 8 independently of frame 11 it is preferably provided with a link 21 at the upper end, which may be engaged by a lifting-lever 22, conveniently located at any suitable position and of any construction desired. By this means the device is not rendered inoperative by loss or breakage of frame 11, thus being independent of such element, if necessary.

Other levers, 22 and 23, (indicated in dotted lines,) may be so arranged as to exert downward pressure upon lever 18 and the outer end of frame 11, which is preferably provided with an upwardly-extending lug or boss 24. While lever 22 is not ordinarily necessary, the lever 17 acting by gravity insures operation of the lever should its normal action be interfered with for any reason. The lever 23 or some equivalent device for depressing the outer end of tilting frame 11 is a necessary part of the equivalent; but 1 do not desire to be limited to any specific construction for this purpose, as it is obvious that various means may be employed with equally goed results.

While the lever-frame 11 is shown as being mounted on the outside of housing 6, it may be located within the walls of the housing, if desired, and either construction may be employed with good results.

It willbe seen that the draw-head is of good size, as is also the interior cavity, so that it may be. used as a buffer to absorb the shock of coupling While giving easy access to the approaching link of the other coupler.

The coupling may be mounted in the framework of the car, according to the best practice or to suit various constructions of framing, andIhave not shown any specific mounting, nor do I Wish to be confined to any particular way, as such portion` lof the work is more particularly within the province of the erecting mechanic.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a car-coupler, the combination of a draw-head, a vertically-movable coupling-pin, a lever connected therewith, a hollow' sliding supporting-block provided with a filler of light material, and a lever adapted to move the block forward, substantially as set forth.

2. In a car-coupler, lthe combination of a draw-head, a vertical ly-movable coupling-pin, a lever connected therewith, a hollow sliding supporting-block provided with an inserted bearing substance, and a lever adapted to move the block forward underneath the pin, substantially as set forth.

3. In a car-coupler, the combination of a draw-head, a vertically-movable coupling-pin, a lever connected therewith, a coupling-link rectangular in cross-section, adapted to engage the inner sides of the draw-head and to be prevented from turning, a hollow sliding supporting-block for the pin having an inserted bearing adapted to be moved backwardly from underneath the pin by the link when inserted, and a lever adapted to move the block forward underneath the pin, substantially as set forth.

4. A car-coupler consisting of a draw-head, a vertically-movable coupling-pin therein, a pivoted frame connected with the couplingpin, a sliding supporting-block, and a pivoted counterweighted lever adapted to move the block underneath the pin, substantially as set forth.

5. A car-coupler consisting of a draw-head having an upwardly extending housing, a coupling-pin vertically mounted in the front of the housing and draw-head, a pivoted frame mounted in the housing having a slotted engagement with the pin, a sliding supportingblock, and a pivoted counter-weighted lever for theblock, substantially as set forth.

6. A car-coupler consisting of a draw-head having an upwardly extending housing, a coupling-pin vertically mounted in the front of the housing and draw-head, a pivoted frame mounted in the housing having a slotted engagement with the pin, a sliding supportingblock, and a pivoted counterweighted lever for the block, with means for depressing the pivoted frame, substantially as set forth.

7. A car-coupler consisting of a draw-head having an upwardly extending housing, a coupling-pin vertically mounted in the front of the housing and draw-head, a pivoted frame mounted in the housing having a slotted engagement with the pin, a sliding supportingblock, and a pivoted counterweighted lever for the block, with independent levers for raising the pin and for depressing the pivoted frame and block-lever, substantially as set forth.

v 8. In a car-coupler, the combination of a IOO IIO

draw-head, avertically-movablecoupling-pin, adapted to move the block forward, substan? a lever connected therewith, a coupling-link tially as set forth.'

IO rectangular in cross-section,v having interme- In testimony whereofI I aIiX my signature in diate cross-bearing portions and adapted to presence of two witnesses. engage the inner wallsv of the draw-head, a LEOPOLD BOTTENSTEIN. sliding supporting-block for the coupling-pin Witnesses: v adapted to be moved backwardly by the link C. M. CLARKE,

when entering, and an independent lever H. M. CORWIN.V 

